Operating system for a motor vehicle automatic air-conditioning system

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a control unit for an automatic air-conditioning system for motor vehicles, with adjusting and/or indicating means at least for &#34;air distribution&#34;, &#34;air volume&#34; and &#34;air temperature&#34; with the following features: 
     (a) As nominal-value adjusting means for &#34;air distribution&#34; and/or &#34;air volume&#34; and/or &#34;air temperature&#34;, provision is made in each case for an operator-regulated analog nominal-value adjusting device (2, 3 and 4, respectively); 
     (b) as nominal-value indicating means for &#34;air distribution&#34; and/or &#34;air volume&#34;, an analog nominal-value indicating device (2.1; 2.2 or 2.1; 2.3 or 2.1; 2.4 or 3.1; 3.2) is associated with each nominal-value adjusting device (2 or 3), such indicating device being directly slaved by an independent separate drive; 
     (c) the nominal-value indicating device in the manual adjustment mode is, in the automatic mode, concomitantly used in each case as an actual-value indicating device for &#34;air distribution&#34; and/or &#34;air volume&#34;, such actual-value indicating device being directly slaved by the separate drive in accordance with the given actual value.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a control unit for an automaticair-conditioning system for motor vehicles according to patent claim 1.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A control unit for an automatic air-conditioning system for motorvehicles is known, for example from DE 39 146 27. Said control unitcontains two rotatable, coaxial control knobs projecting externally fromthe housing, as well as two coaxial shafts, an inner and an outer shaft,which are rotatably connected with the two control knobs. Thetemperature and the distribution of air in the interior of the motorvehicle are adjusted by way of said shafts. As another feature, thecontrol unit comprises two indicator drums, which are rotatablyconnected with the two shafts, arranged in the interior of the controlunit, and provided with symbols, which shift in relation to two windowsin the front wall of the housing. Furthermore, when adjusted, the twocontrol knobs lock in stable, exactly defined angular positions.

Furthermore, a control unit for an automatic air-conditioning system isknown from U.S. Pat. No. 5, 220,805, where the usual parameters of anair-conditioning system such as, for example "air distribution", "airvolume" and "air temperature" are adjusted via infinitely rotatablecontrol knobs. With this control unit, the set point positions in themanual mode are indicated by digitally controlled symbols. When thecontrol knob is turned, trailing of the digital symbols is accomplishedby means of computer control, which determines the change in the desiredparameter of the air-conditioning system from the original position, thesense of rotation, and the extent of rotation. When the parameter of theair-conditioning system is changed by manually overriding the automaticcontrol by turning the knob, it is perceived as disadvantageous--due tothe computer control--that the change takes place only in discrete,digitizable steps. Simple and safe adjustment of the desired parameteris prevented due to coarse digitization.

With other known designs of air-conditioning systems, it is possible,for example to override the automatic control by hand by manuallyactuating a great number of pushbuttons, or by actuating rocker keys anumber of times for adjusting the speed of the blower and thus the valuefor air volume. The values so set by hand in the override function areindicated via LCD-displays. Provision is made for similar displays forindicating the actual value selected by the automatic system whenoperating in the purely automatic mode.

According to the problem of the present invention, the objective is todesign possibilities for setting and recognizing manually adjustablevalues for "air distribution", "air volume" and, if necessary, "airtemperature" in a simpler and safer way.

According to the invention, the solution to said problem is implementedby a control unit with the features of claim 1. Advantageousdevelopments of the invention are the objects of the dependent claims.

In the embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, whichhas modes for both automatic and manual adjustment, provision is madefor manually adjustable analog setting devices to regulate "airdistribution" and/or "air volume" and/or "air temperature", permittingsimple manual handling of such adjustments. As indicators of "airdistribution" and/or "air volume" each analog setting device isassociated with an analog display which in the manual setting mode actsas a direct analog indicator of the nominal value, activated by anindependent outside drive, consistent with the preset nominal value,thereby affording quick and dependable read-out of the preset value.When switching to the automatic mode by actuating an "Automatic"pushbutton, such independent separate drive causes the indicator deviceto directly slave the given actual value of "air distribution" and/or"air volume" analogously, serving as an indicator for the actual value.In this way, the indicator previously used in the manual mode as anominal value display can be concomitantly used in the automatic mode asan indication of the actual value.

To achieve simple and safe adjustments and read-outs, on the one hand,and a compact design of the device setting the nominal value, on theother, provision is usefully made in each case for a control knobsurrounded concentrically over at least a portion of its circumferenceby a scale dial for the indicators of nominal or actual values.According to a preferred development of the invention, provision is madefor slave indicators of nominal-value and actual-value of "airdistribution" and/or "air volume", with the help of a separate drive,whereas a slave indication is omitted for the temperature settingcontrols. In a particularly compact embodiment, provision is made as atemperature-setting means for a ring concentric with the control knobfor "air distribution" and/or "air volume" preferably at least with acontrol knob for "air distribution" particularly in the form of an outerring having a stationary, annular dial scale associated with it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and other advantageous developments of the inventionaccording to the features of dependent claims are explained in greaterdetail in the following exemplified embodiments shown schematically inthe drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a view of the face plate of a first embodiment of a controlunit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cutout of the top view of the control unit according toFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the face plate of a second embodiment of a control unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a cutout of the top view of the control unit according toFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a first cutout of the top view of the control unitaccording to FIGS. 1, 2, with an LED-display for adjusting the "airvolume"; and

FIG. 6 shows a second cutout of the top view of the control unitaccording to FIGS. 1, 2, with an LCD-checker board display for adjustingthe "air volume".

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the face plate of a control unit of anautomatic air-conditioning system for motor vehicles, with manualadjusting means in override function for overriding the automatic modein the form of a center control knob 2 for adjusting the "air volume" bychanging the speed of the blower; with a left control knob 3 and a rightcontrol knob 3 for "air distribution" to the left and, respectively, tothe right half of the vehicle; as well as a rotary ring 4 for adjustingthe "air temperature". As the nominal value indicator in the manualadjustment mode, and the actual-value indicator mode in the automaticmode, provision is made according to FIG. 1 for the indicator 2.1 slavedby a separate drive, for control knob 2 setting "air volume", and theindicator 3.1 for control knob 3 regulating "air distribution", wherebyindicators 2.1 and 3.1 are guided along the fixed indicator dials 2.2and 3.2, respectively, arranged, for example as transparent displays infront of the indicator dials. A suitably controlled stepping motor driveis advantageously used for independently driving the indicators, whichare slaving without mechanical connection to the control knobs,especially for fully rotatable adjustment and indication range over360°. In lieu of a stepping motor, provision can be made, for examplefor a rotary coil instrument, for a particularly economical design

The automatic function of the air-conditioning system is dependent interms of switch-off upon manual actuation of the nominal-value adjustingmeans in the form of control knobs 2 and 3 for "air volume" by changingthe speed of the blower of the air fan, and, respectively, for "airdistribution". Following prior manual actuation of the nominal-valueadjusting means in the form of control knobs 2 and 3, the automatic modecan be switched on again at any time by actuating an automatic switch-onmeans particularly in the form of a pushbutton 5. The latter can bearranged either as a separate component in the front panel of controlunit 1 as shown in FIG. 1, or can be integrated with at least one ofcontrol knobs 2 and 3 to obtain a particularly high degree ofcompactness, such integration being accomplished by arranging itradially inside control knob 3 for "air distribution" so as to beaxially movable.

In automatic mode, the given actual value is displayed by the indicatorin accordance with the automatic setting. Now, if the device for manualadjustment, in particular in the form of control knobs 2 and 3 is turnedin either direction, the automatic system is switched off by the controlunit with respect to the corresponding function of the control knob andthe unit immediately takes over the last value as the initial manualsetting. Starting from such value, the indicators follow in advantageouslocal correlation to their adjusting means partially without noticeabletime lag in the form of a nominal value indicator. If, by actuating theautomatic switch-on particularly in the form of pushbutton 5, the modeis reversed back to automatic, the respective values are controlled bythe automatic system according to its preset program. The indicatorsmove to new values specific to the automatic system and indicate thevalue controlled by the automatic system, as an actual value display.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the setting and displaying meansarranged concentrically to the same axis or shaft are at least partlydesigned with different axial planes of actuation, in such a way thatthey can be easily identified and handled when gripped for manualactuation.

Instead of the mechanical indicators 2.1 and 3.1 for "air volume" and"air distribution" according to FIG. 1, provision is made according tospecial refinements of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 forindicators in the form of light-emitting diodes 2.3 and LCD-fields 2.4,which are switched on or activated depending on the indicator position,such diodes and fields being adjustable corresponding to the givennominal and/or actual values.

As a means for adjusting the temperature, provision is made in each casefor a rotary ring 4 for "air temperature", which is rotatably arrangedconcentrically with control knob 3, and which has an indicator 4.1, thelatter being adjustable relative to a stationary temperature scale ring4.2.

I claim:
 1. A control unit for an automatic air-conditioning system formotor vehicles, with adjusting means and indicators at least for airdistribution, air volume and air temperature, the automaticair-conditioning system having an automatic mode and a manual mode, thecontrol unit comprising:a nominal-value adjusting means for at least oneof air distribution, air volume and air temperature, where provision ismade for a manually adjustable, analog nominal-value adjusting means; anindicator device for at least one of air distribution, air volume andair temperature, where an analog indicator device is associated witheach analog nominal-value adjusting means; and an independent separateanalog drive for, in a manual adjustment mode, directly slaving theindicator device in accordance with a preset nominal value as thenominal-value indicator device and for, in an automatic adjustment mode,directly slaving the indicator device in accordance with the given valueof at least one of air distribution, air volume and air temperature, asactual-value indicator device.
 2. A control unit according to claim 1,whereinat least one control knob acts as a nominal-value adjusting meansfor air volume or, air distribution or air temperature and the indicatordevice acts as a nominal-value or actual value indicator of air volumeand air distribution, each of the indicator devices slavingconcentrically with the control knobs relative to a stationaryindicating dial with the help of the separate drive.
 3. A control unitaccording to claim 1, wherein automatic function of the air-conditioningsystem is dependent for switch-off purposes upon manual actuation of thenominal-value adjusting means for air distribution or air volume,respectively.
 4. A control unit according to claim 3, further comprisingmanually actuated automatic--switch on means, wherein the automaticfunction of the air-conditioning system, following prior manualactuation of the nominal-value adjusting means, is, dependent forswitch-on, upon the manually actuated automatic--switch on means.
 5. Acontrol unit according to claim 2, wherein a rotary ring serves as theadjusting means for air temperature, the rotary ring being concentricwith the control knobs.
 6. A control unit according to claim 5, whereinthe rotary ring comprises an outer ring mounted concentrically with thecontrol knob for air distribution.
 7. A control unit according to claim5, wherein an annular indicating dial for air temperature is radiallyarranged between the rotary ring for air temperature and the controlknob for air distribution, with the indicator device for airtemperature, associated with the dial on the side of the rotary ring. 8.A control unit according to claim 4, wherein the automatic switch-onmeans is arranged concentrically with one of the control knobs.
 9. Acontrol unit according to claim 8, wherein the adjusting means and theindicator device arranged concentrically with an identical axle or shaftare at least partly configured with different axial planes of actuation.10. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein the indicator devicecomprises indicators and switched-on light-emitting diodes and activatedLCD-fields associated with indicating dials, set according to the givennominal and actual values.
 11. A control unit according to claim 4,wherein a rotary ring serves as the adjusting means for air temperature,the rotary ring being concentric with the control knobs.
 12. A controlunit according to claim 6, wherein an annular indicating dial for airtemperature is radially arranged between the rotary ring for airtemperature and the control knob for air distribution, with theindicator device for air temperature, associated with the dial on theside of the rotary ring.
 13. A control unit for an air-conditioningsystem operable in an automatic mode and a manual mode, the control unitcomprising:at least one nominal-value adjusting device for adjusting atleast one of air distribution, air volume and air temperature of theair-conditioning system; at least an indicator associated with eachadjusting device; and analog drive for directly driving the indicator toindicate a pre-set nominal value in the manual mode and to indicate anactual value of at least one of air distribution, air volume and airtemperature in the automatic mode.
 14. The control unit according toclaim 13, wherein manual actuation of the adjusting device for at leastone of air distribution and air volume switches off the automatic mode.15. The control unit according to claim 13, further comprising a switchfor initiating the automatic mode of the air-conditioning system. 16.The control unit according to claim 15, wherein at least one adjustingdevice includes a control knob for air distribution and the switchcomprises a pushbutton, the pushbutton being arranged concentricallywith the control knob.
 17. The control unit according to claim 16,wherein the at least one adjusting device further comprises a rotaryring for air temperature, the rotary ring being concentric with thecontrol knob.
 18. The control unit according to claim 17, wherein theindicator for temperature comprises an annular indicating dial for airtemperature, the dial being radially arranged between the rotary ringand the control knob.
 19. The control unit according to claim 13,wherein the adjusting device and the indicator are arrangedconcentrically with an identical axle or shaft and are arranged withdifferent axial planes of actuation.
 20. A control unit for anair-conditioning system operable in an automatic mode and a manual mode,the control unit comprising:nominal-value adjusting means for adjustingat least one of air distribution, air volume and air-temperature of theair conditioning system; means, associated with each said adjustingmeans, for indicating at least one of air distribution, air volume andair temperature; and means for directly driving the indicator toindicate a pre-set nominal value in the manual mode and to indicate anactual value of at least one of air distribution, air volume and airtemperature in the automatic mode.